Standing…

Beneath the shadows, within the walls of Elmina’s halls,

Lies a gory tale of histories long forgotten.

it calls-

It calls us to weave new stories

To reclaim with grace, the perils buried in these spaces.

The Atlantic waves whisper a chorus of strength, 

Its horizon reveals a shared sunrise.

With each gleam, colonial echoes fade away.

Leaving locals room to recover a rightful sway.

For the local, recalling the intricacy of a colonial past

is a powerfully underutilized tool.

A promise to the future, that when each soul sails,

It will be a merry sail, cheering on their mates to harvest seals.

No longer will they mourn over a ship’s sail.

The water remembers,

when the boats first moved from the coast.

Our history seems anchored to this past.

Where do we exist outside of colonial blues?

Right here, at the water’s shore, we remember;

We are more than what broke us, remolded us.

When I think of the Elmina Castle,

I sense a shift in the tides

I see where stories intertwine

I hear of freedom’s anthem, a melody so rare,

as the waves wash away the weary symbol of pain.

Leaving in its wake a fresh fragrance of fear metamorphosed.

Tell me what hope tastes like,

what would you give as a canvas for galvanizing hopeful dreams for gain?

“Be free” they say, we want to be free, this they say with fervent might

And with each layer of rust that falls off, history’s chains begin to unbind

Elmina will no longer be home for tales of slaves chained

But a sanctuary where hope will reign.

Reclaiming agency, a shared decree

It’s our space they say with pride – it’s home.

No longer bound by the past’s embrace.

Mpanyin se, akyer3kyer3 ma akwankyer3, nti

Teach our young, that ours is a history of pride

Our names, a compass to where our people reside

Our foods the sound of a fontomfrom to voyagers from hours of sailing

Let this tale be retold never to fade.

Let it sounds keep our feet nimble,

Let the next shared sunrise, catch us in regal steps, unafraid,

Reclaiming these spaces loong, long after the raid!